Like this:

There’s so much shit going on these days. There’s so much I feel like I should be doing: work stuff, exercise stuff, personal project stuff, reading stuff. There’s. Just. So. Much.

I’m a very goal-oriented person (or tend to see myself that way, anyway), yet I generally “set” goals somewhere and fail to meet them. There’s a lot to be said about that whole “put it where you can see it” crap because if I don’t see it, I either forget or decide I don’t care in that moment. (That’s partially true – I don’t care – but it’s only true for a short period of time and then I kick myself for being lazy.)

Things I’ve Left Undone

Take, for instance, how I said (many times over) I was going to keep up with this little blog. Look how that turned out. Not too great, but things could be worse, right?

Take how I said I was going to exercise every day for 100 days. Has that happened? No. Turns out it’s way hard (which I knew) and I’m ridiculously busy (which I also knew) and I’m lazy (which I definitely knew). After everything is said and done, I don’t feel like going for a run or killing myself in my apartment to do a single round of Insanity or just turning off the lights and dancing like the awkward white girl I am.

Like this:

As promised (more to myself than you, Reader… no offense), I’m going to keep tonight’s entry short and sweet.

I made a ton of intentions (because I can never seem to keep up with “goals”) for this year, which you can read about here. Needless to say, I’ve kept up with my usual not getting around to keeping said intentions. While this new list is meant to be completed, chances are, it simply won’t be. I’m just telling you now so you’re not disappointed later.

I’m really bad at this. As I’ve previously made clear, I can’t be trusted with my own goals. Intentions. (Whatever.)

Assume that everything I list here was probably an intention I totally blew. With all that said, and without further ado, here’s what I’d like to accomplish before the end of the year:

Bake that effing cheesecake I’ve been talking about for years. I have cream cheese that’s ready to go and needs to be used, so it’s a win-win.

Run a minimum of 50 miles before Dec. 31.

Write 4 letters a month to people that mean something to me.

Cook once a week (at least) at home. Suck it up, do the dishes, and just make something.

Plan an epic Christmas party for my other expat friends and KBFF. Blog about it (because you know you want to know how it goes!).

Start producing stuff to use for my own business next year.

Redesign A Little Bit Brave (again).

Drink more wine.

Finish NaBloPoMo without missing a single day.

Visit Bali. (It’s happening, Reader, Christmas 2015!)

Participate in a temple stay. Meditate and stuff.

Read 2 books.

Make an appointment at that laser hair removal place on the opposite side of town. (Time’s a-wastin’.)

Wake up no later than 8:30 every morning. Also, be in bed by 12:00 and asleep before 1:00 AM.

Take more photos. A lot more.

That’s it. Well, for now anyway. I’m sure I can think of others, which I’ll add later. Peh. Here’s hoping I can get my shit together and accomplish these. As always, feel free to hold me accountable. (I need you, Reader, more than you know!)

I’ve been working as the editor and occasional writer at Charm House, which has kept me busy since June.

I ran another 10K in Gyeongju, South Korea in October – a city I previously visited in February. It was beautiful and fall-y this time, though.

I went to the DMZ and actually looked into North Korea. I also watched North Korean soldiers at a countryside post go about their daily business via a live video feed from some fancy, long-distance camera. It was, without a doubt, one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had.

For months, I’ve planned to “get back to business” in November. I’ve let months slide by without giving my goals a second glance, which I feel totally guilty about… I had such big plans for this year – my year – and then I ignored them.

So this is it, Reader. I’m getting back to business and you get to read about it (if you so choose) every day this month. Prepare for stories from recent months, strange encounters, sites seen, and a new list of goals for the year’s end and 2016.

Like this:

You might be thinking that I completely forgot about you. I realize that I haven’t written anything for about six weeks now, and for that I’m terribly sorry! It certainly wasn’t intentional, but a lot has been happening.

I went to the Americas for 3 weeks. (That’s right, THREE. I had a lot of Mexican food, sushi, Chick Fil-a, and cheesecake. Though not all together (thankfully).)

I came back from the Americas and got slapped in the face by my “day job” of teaching. Report cards, special classes, and keeping up with my semi-newly-accepted position of Head Instructor has made life nothing less than chaotic.

I finished a book (for the first time in a couple of months.).

I have accomplished few (or no) goals and have failed to set any new ones since, oh I don’t know, April?

So essentially, I had a lot happen. I promise I didn’t forget about you. Nay, I have thought about you a lot. I’ve felt spectacularly guilty about not writing anything to entertain you, or at the very least, ramble on about my opinions that you may or may not agree with. (That’s the beauty of the internet, I can say what I want to!)

Here’s my promise: I’m back full-swing this week. I’ve been cooking up things I should write about and I’ve got a post for the A Little Bit Brave series hanging out, waiting to be published. I promise to hop back on the horse!

So please forgive me, gentle Reader. I didn’t forget you. I just have really pathetic excuses as to why I haven’t been writing. But I’m back, really.